Podesta Favors Concentration Bill

June 23, 2000

John Podesta, President Clinton’s chief of staff, told Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (SD) the administration "strongly supports" a Senate bill to address problems for producers from agricultural concentration. The measure’s sponsors, says Podesta, "have offered a bill that takes important steps to craft solutions to this difficult issue."

He continued, "The administration shares the frustration and concern expressed by so many family farmers and ranchers. This legislation squarely confronts on of the most complex issues facing small farmers today."

The bill (S.2411) would strengthen the ability of USDA to address the adverse effects of unfair, deceptive and anti-competitive practices on farmers and ranchers and consider the circumstances of rural communities as well, according to its supporters. It would benefit independent farmers and ranchers "by mandating the use of plain language in contracts and prohibiting the use of `confidentiality’ requirements that have the effect of preventing these producers form seeking legal or financial counsel when deciding whether to sign a contract," Podesta says.

Podesta also noted that USDA had taken unilateral actions on the issue by bringing enforcement actions against major packers; developing regulatory and legislative proposals, such as mandating livestock price reporting and conducting investigations into potentially unfair trade practices. But USDA’s authority is limited by law to commodities specified in those statutes," Podesta notes.